Washing machine

ABSTRACT

A washing machine is provided that includes a drum; and a condensing duct that communicates with the drum and is supplied with air from an inside of the drum. A coolant spray is provided inside the condensing duct, and sprays coolant from a lower portion to an upper portion of the condensing duct. A washing machine is thus provided that enhances condensation efficiency by increasing a contact time between hot moisture-laden air in a condensing duct and the coolant while decreasing time consumed during a drying phase. In addition, the washing machine can enhance the condensation efficiency by changing a spray direction of a coolant spray device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2004-0047877, filed Jun. 24, 2004, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine that condenses moisture in air passing through an inside of a condensing duct using coolant to enhance efficiency of drying.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a washing machine is an appliance intended to carry out a washing operation by tumbling clothes during rotation by 360 degrees of a rotatable drum, and it also carries out rinsing, dehydrating and drying operations.

During the drying operation of the washing machine, air heated by a heater is supplied into the drum to heat the clothes and hot moisture-laden air subtracted from the heated clothes is condensed to enhance drying efficiency.

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional washing machine comprises a drum 1; a fan 2 and a fan duct 3 provided in an upper portion of the drum 1; a condensing duct 4 connecting the drum 1 and the fan duct 3. A spray nozzle 5 is provided in an inner upper portion of the condensing duct 4; and a coolant supply tube 6 supplies coolant to the spray nozzle 5 therethrough. In this conventional washing machine, air passed through an air outlet 1 a in a lower portion of the drum 1 during a drying phase becomes hot and moisture laden, and this hot moisture-laden air is flown into the condensing duct 4. Passing through the condensing duct 4 and flowing into the fan duct 3, the hot moisture-laden air contacts the coolant sprayed from an upper portion to a lower portion through the spray nozzle 5, and moisture contained in the air is condensed.

However, this conventional washing machine sprays the coolant from the upper portion to the lower portion through the spray nozzle 5 provided inside the condensing duct 4, and therefore the hot moisture-laden air passing through the condensing duct 4 makes contact with the coolant for too short of a time period. Thus, the conventional washing machine is required to use more coolant or a separate condensing device to enhance the condensation efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an exemplary aspect of the present invention provides a washing machine that enhances condensation efficiency by increasing contact time between hot moisture-laden air in a condensing duct and the coolant while decreasing time consumed during a drying phase. It is also contemplated that the washing machine can enhance the condensation efficiency by changing a spray direction of a coolant spray device, as well.

An exemplary embodiment provides a washing machine comprising a drum; a condensing duct communicating with the drum, and supplied with air from an inside of the drum; and a coolant spray provided inside the condensing duct, and spraying coolant in an upward direction.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the coolant spray sprays the coolant so that the coolant goes beyond an upper portion of the condensing duct and then falls down under the gravity. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the coolant spray comprises a spray nozzle.

According to an even further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine further comprises a “v” shaped condensing guide provided above an upper portion of the coolant spray, and protruded from an inner wall of the condensing duct.

An additional exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a drying machine comprising a drum, and a condensing duct which communicates with the drum. The condensing duct is supplied with air from an inside of the drum, and a coolant spray is provided inside the condensing duct to spray coolant in an upward direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an installation state of a condensing duct and a coolant spray of a conventional washing machine;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an installation state of a condensing duct and a coolant spray of the duct washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a configurational view of a condensing duct and a coolant spray of the duct washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING, EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a washing machine according to the present invention comprises a main body 10; a cylindrical drum 20 provided in the main body 10, for containing clothes therein. A cylindrical washing chamber 22 is rotatably provided in the drum 20, and has a dewatering hole formed on a wall thereof. A driving motor 23 is provided in a lower portion of the drum 20, and rotates the drum clockwise or counterclockwise to operate a washing, rinsing and drying phases. A door 24 is provided to be opened/closed in a front portion of the main body 10.

In an upper portion of drum 20 is provided a water supply unit such as a water supply valve 25, a water supply pipe 26, a laundry detergent unit 27 and the like to fill the drum with water and, at the same time, dissolve a laundry detergent as well.

Further, in the upper portion of the drum 20 is provided a drying unit to dry the clothes after the dewatering phase is completed. The drying unit comprises a fan 70 and a fan duct 72 provided in an upper portion of the drum 20. A discharge duct 80 is provided to be in communication with the fan duct 72 and an air inlet 21 a of the drum 20. A heater 60 is provided inside the discharge duct 80; and a condensing duct 30 communicates with an air outlet 21 b of the drum 20 and the fan duct 72. A coolant spray or means for spraying 40 is provided inside the condensing duct 30, and sprays coolant. A coolant supply pipe 42 is connected to the coolant spray 40 and supplies the coolant thereto.

With this configuration, air supplied by the fan 70 passes through the discharging duct 80 and is heated by the heater 60. The heated air is supplied to an inside of the drum 20 through the air inlet 21 a to heat and dry the clothes. During the drying phase, hot moisture-laden air is generated and introduced into the condensing duct 30 through the air output 21 b of the drum 20. Moisture contained in the hot moisture-laden air is condensed by coolant sprayed from a lower portion to an upper portion of the condensing duct 30 by the coolant spray 40, when the hot moisture-laden air passes through the condensing duct 30 and flows into the fan duct 72.

A condensing guide 50 is provided inside the condensing duct 30 to enhance condensation efficiency. The shape and an installation place of the condensing guide 50 may be variously changed as necessary.

In a lower portion of the drum 20 is provided a drain unit comprising a drain pipe 28, a drain pump 29 and the like to drain washing water inside the drum 20.

FIG. 4 illustrates an installation state of the condensing duct and the coolant spray of the washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 illustrates a structure of the condensing duct and the coolant spray of the washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown therein, the condensing duct 30 communicates with the air outlet 21 b of the drum 20 and an air inlet 73 of the fan duct 72, and the hot moisture-laden air generated from an inside of the drum 20 during the drying phase is flown thereinto.

In an exemplary embodiment, the coolant spray 40 is housed inside the condensing duct 30, and sprays the coolant from a lower portion to an upper portion to condense the moisture contained in the hot moisture-laden air passing through the condensing duct 30. In other words, the coolant supplied through the coolant supply pipe 42 is sprayed upwardly in the condensing duct 30 by the coolant spray 40. The upwardly sprayed coolant reaches a certain height and falls down to the lower portion of the condensing duct 30 to condense the moisture in the hot moisture-laden air. It is contemplated that the coolant may be ejected throughout the lower portion and the upper portion of the condensing duct 30, and can also be ejected from only the lower portion or the upper portion.

As a result of the coolant changing a direction after being sprayed from the coolant spray 40 from the lower portion to the upper portion, the hot moisture-laden air contacts the coolant while the coolant is sprayed upwardly and while the coolant falls down. Accordingly, the hot moisture-laden air contacts the coolant for a comparatively longer period of time, and thereby enhances the condensation efficiency. In an exemplary embodiment, the coolant spray 40 sprays the coolant so that the coolant goes beyond the upper portion of the condensing duct 30 and then falls down under the gravity.

The condensing duct 30 may be provided with a plurality of condensing guides 50 that protrude from an inner wall thereof. The plurality of condensing guides 50 makes the coolant and the hot moisture air have more contact to enhance the condensation efficiency. The shape and an installation place of the condensation guides 50 may be variously changed as necessary.

In an exemplary embodiment a “V” shaped condensing guide 55 is provided in an upper portion of the condensing duct 30 and forms the coolant into a large water drop to prevent the coolant from backflow, and thereby further enhances drying efficiency compared to a single-lined condensing guide. It is contemplated that the coolant spray 40 comprises a spray nozzle to uniformly spray the coolant, but may comprise another well-known devices.

The condensing duct 30 comprises an air path connecting the air outlet 21 b provided in the lower portion of the drum 20 and the fan duct 72 provided in the upper portion of the drum 20, and a side thereof is opened and bent about a given degree and adhesively coupled to a rear side of the drum 20 and the fan duct 72.

An exemplary condensing process of the washing machine described hereinbefore is as follows.

First, the coolant supplied through the coolant supply pipe 42 is sprayed upwardly as shown by the arrows S from the lower portion to the upper portion of the condensing duct 30 by the coolant spray 40 until the coolant reaches a certain height, and then the coolant falls down as shown by the arrows S′ to condense the moisture contained in the hot moisture-laden air.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a washing machine with a drying unit, but similar devices are also contemplated to incorporate the invention, such as a drying machine to dry clothes. In such a case, a drum of a washing machine performs the same function as a drum of a drying machine to accommodate the clothes. Also, the other elements are similarly applicable.

Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 

1. A washing machine comprising: a drum; a condensing duct which communicates with the drum, and is supplied with air from an inside of the drum; and a coolant spray provided inside the condensing duct, and which sprays coolant in an upward direction.
 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the coolant spray sprays the coolant so that the coolant goes beyond the upper portion of the condensing duct and then falls down due to gravity.
 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the coolant spray comprises a spray nozzle.
 4. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the coolant spray comprises a spray nozzle.
 5. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a v-shaped condensing guide protruded from an inner wall of the condensing duct.
 6. The washing machine according to claim 2, further comprising a v-shaped condensing guide protruded from an inner wall of the condensing duct.
 7. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the v-shaped condensing guide is positioned in the condensing duct above an area reached by the coolant spray.
 8. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the v-shaped condensing guide is positioned in the condensing duct above an area reached by the coolant spray.
 9. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion is in a lower half of the condensing duct.
 10. A washing machine comprising: a drum; a condensing duct which communicates with the drum, and is supplied with air from an inside of the drum; and means for spraying coolant inside the condensing duct in an upward direction.
 11. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the means for spraying coolant sprays the coolant so that the coolant goes beyond the upper portion of the condensing duct and then falls down due to gravity.
 12. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the means for spraying coolant comprises a spray nozzle.
 13. The washing machine according to claim 10, further comprising a “v” shaped condensing guide protruded from an inner wall of the condensing duct.
 14. The washing machine according to claim 13, wherein the “v” shaped condensing guide is positioned in the condensing duct above an area reached by the coolant spray.
 15. A drying machine comprising: a drum; a condensing duct which communicates with the drum, and is supplied with air from an inside of the drum; and a coolant spray provided inside the condensing duct, and which sprays coolant in an upward direction. 